Rockets-Spurs Preview

By JORDAN GARRETSONPosted Dec 27 2012 10:13PM

The Houston Rockets' high-powered offense is firing on all cylinders of late, and they've compiled an impressive winning streak as a result.

The Rockets will have to contend with another of the league's top scoring teams Friday night as they travel to San Antonio to play the Spurs, who have taken the first two meetings this season.

Houston and San Antonio rank first and second in points per game at 105.3 and 104.9, respectively, and their most recent matchup didn't disappoint. The Spurs won 134-126 in overtime at Houston on Dec. 10 as both teams saw three players score at least 20 points - and that was with Rockets star James Harden sitting out due to a sprained right ankle.

Harden returned the next game and the Rockets (16-12) have won seven of eight and five in a row since. Those last five victories came by an average of 17.2 points with Houston shooting 51.5 percent from the field.

An 87-84 win at Minnesota on Wednesday broke a string of three straight victories by 22 or more points, and it was the Rockets' third consecutive road win after they started 2-7 away from home. It was a gritty victory for a team that won by 23 points in Chicago one night earlier.

"We were kind of sluggish throughout the game," said Harden, who ranks among the league leaders at 25.8 points per game. "We stuck with it for four quarters. Every game we're not going to score the ball, we're not going to make shots every single game. In different games you have to grind it out and try to force a win."

Harden is averaging 29.6 points during the five-game winning streak, and 17 of his 30 points against the Timberwolves came in the fourth quarter. He converted three driving layups in the final 2:14, including the go-ahead basket with :39 left.

"When he's playing downhill on you, he's just a monster at that. He's coming at you," Houston coach Kevin McHale said. "It's just so hard to defend."

The Spurs (22-8) have won three straight overall and seven in a row at home to improve to 11-2 on their own court. A high-scoring attack is nothing new for San Antonio, which ranks fifth in the league over the last three seasons at 102.8 points per game.

But with the Spurs aiming for their first title since 2006-07, Tony Parker said the team is placing an even larger focus on defense. San Antonio ranks in the middle of the pack, allowing an average of 97.0 points.

"We want to be in the top five for everything defensively," said Parker, who leads the Spurs with 18.8 points and 7.2 assists per game. "We know if you want to win a championship, you have to be in the top five."

San Antonio allowed a season low in points in Wednesday's 100-80 win over Toronto, which had won five straight. The Spurs are giving up 88.3 points over their last three contests, which coincides with the return of defensive standout Kawhi Leonard.

Leonard, who sat out the previous 18 games with knee tendinitis, has 34 points and 10 steals in three games since coming back. His 4.1 steals per 48 minutes lead the NBA.

"With his length and ability to read situations, he can get a lot of deflections and steals that give you a good lift in some parts of the game," teammate Manu Ginobili said.

San Antonio won the first meeting 114-92 at home Dec. 7. Houston point guard Jeremy Lin tied a career high with 38 points in the second defeat, the Rockets' fourth in five meetings.

Four of the series' last 10 games have gone to overtime.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited

Duncan, Parker, Ginobili carry Spurs past Rockets

Posted Dec 29 2012 12:32AM

SAN ANTONIO (AP) Gregg Popovich angrily called timeout after his San Antonio Spurs offered little resistance when Houston guard James Harden dunked on a 3-on-1 break.

Tiago Splitter was the first to hear Popovich's scorn, but the reigning coach of the year saved most of his wrath for Tim Duncan and Tony Parker. MVP, All-Star, reserve or sideline reporter, no one is protected from Popovich's ire.

His tirade led to the Spurs' fourth straight win.

Duncan, Parker and Manu Ginobili combined to score 84 points, and San Antonio snapped the Rockets' five-game winning streak with a 122-116 victory on Friday night.

Parker had 31 points and 10 assists, Duncan had 30 points and five rebounds, and Ginobili had a season-high 23 points for San Antonio (23-8).

"They were unbelievable," Ginobili said of Duncan and Parker. "I had a nice stretch early in the third quarter, but those guys have been great all season. I kind of joined in on the scoring. The main thing is that we beat another great team that has been rolling."

The Spurs beat Toronto on Wednesday to snap the Raptors' five-game winning streak.

It was the first time the Spurs had two players score 30 points in a game since Feb. 2, 2009, when Duncan and Ginobili both had 32.

Those points were needed against the high-scoring Rockets, who lead the NBA in scoring at 105.3 points per game.

While the Spurs' "Big Three" were able to match the Rockets' production, it was the team's defense that was key.

After allowing Houston to shoot 55 percent through three quarters, the Spurs clamped down in the fourth. San Antonio had seven steals in the period, and Houston shot 10 for 23 from the field.

Ginobili and Patty Mills made back-to-back 3s to push the Spurs' lead to 104-97. Mills also forced offensive fouls on Lin and Aldrich to help San Antonio go on a 7-0 run.

"We got a group out there that did an excellent job of both sprinting back in transition, showing a crowd in full-court shell and getting guys off the 3-point line," Popovich said. "But, other than that period, we were pretty poor in that respect, and that's Houston's game. That's why they're kicking everybody's butt and scoring all these points."

The Spurs turned up their defensive intensity late in the third, with Splitter earning applause from Popovich after teaming with Stephen Jackson to trap Harden and force a jump ball.

Harden was whistled for his fifth foul on the ensuing jump ball, forcing Houston coach Kevin McHale to sit his leading scorer.

"It changed the entire game," Harden said of the call. "It gave me five fouls. I had to come out, and then I had to play hesitant. It changed the entire game."

The Spurs stretched their lead to 19 points in the fourth quarter before the Rockets rallied, but were unable to get closer than the final score.

"I think it was the start of the game," McHale said. "We had to fight back. I was proud of the guys and how they battled back."

San Antonio set season highs with 41 points in the first quarter and 69 in the first half but Houston kept pace with 63 before halftime - the most by a Spurs opponent this season.

The Spurs shot 67 percent in building a 21-8 lead in the opening 6 minutes.

Cole Aldrich's running hook gave the Rockets their first lead at 65-64 with 1:05 remaining in the half. Ginobili made a 3 and a layup to stake the Spurs to a 69-65 lead at halftime.

Danny Green was 5 for 7 on 3-pointers and finished with 17 points for San Antonio.

NOTES: Rockets P Patrick Patterson (bruised right foot) missed his seventh straight game. ... Parker is the only player in the NBA averaging at least 18 points, 7 assists, and 3 rebounds while shooting over 50 percent from the field, 40 percent on 3s, and 80 percent on free throws. ... San Antonio has five winning streaks of at least 3 games this season. ... While the Spurs rank first in total assists at 25.8 per game, Parker is the only player who has more than 10 in a game. He has done it six times.

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited